Large-Scale Evaluation of Satisfaction, Intent to Use, and Confidence with an Online Learning Course for a Well-Established, Evidence-Based Trauma Treatment: TFCBTWeb2.0

Evid Based Pract Child Adolesc Ment Health. 2024;9(3):379-394. doi: 10.1080/23794925.2024.2324760. Epub 2024 Mar 25.

Abstract

Web-courses for learning evidence-based treatments (EBTs) are increasingly used to improve the dissemination and implementation of evidence-based practice in psychology. Most research on web-courses has focused on engagement and knowledge acquisition, and limited research has evaluated learner satisfaction with training and intent to use EBTs. Further, even when aspects of satisfaction and learner intentions are examined, factors that may contribute to these variables are often overlooked. The current study sought to address these limitations by examining individual, training, and system level factors related to web-course satisfaction, intent to use EBTs, and confidence working with trauma-exposed families following completion of TFCBTWeb2.0, a publicly available web-course for trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (TF-CBT). Data from 80,749 learners who completed TFCBTWeb2.0 and who represented a wide range of professionals were examined. Most learners (> 90%) were satisfied with the course, intended to use the material, and had high confidence about working with trauma-exposed families. Moreover, those learners who completed the course more slowly (vs. faster completion time) and had more knowledge gain, as well as those who enrolled during the COVID-19 pandemic (vs. pre-pandemic), reported higher satisfaction with the course. Collectively, these results highlight the need to examine both individual and system level factors when considering web-course satisfaction, intent to use EBTs, and confidence working with client populations. Suggestions for TF-CBT trainers and supervisors are provided for how to improve training and learners' willingness to use TF-CBT.

Keywords: Trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy; evidence-based treatment; posttraumatic stress disorder; web-based training; youth.